My Top 4 Favourites From This Year’s Spring Collection

The Spring collection is here from Pandora Global, featuring flowers in lilac, lavender and pink along with a whole lot of butterflies. There are some real ‘gems’ in this collection (pun intended) that are total must gets on my personal list as well as many other’s I’m sure. Here are my top 4 pieces from this collection that are real stand outs!

Fav Piece 1: Light Blue Butterfly Kisses Glass Charm

There’s one in light blue/purple and one in pink/purple – the only worry is to figure out which colour suits you best! The glass is clouded over a bit, giving the charm a kind of dreamy texture which fits with the Spring theme and collection. The butterfly and heart design look absolutely fantastic on the website, but I will definitely be seeing it in person to get a feel of how it works with the light and on the bracelet.

Fav Piece 2: Vintage Butterfly Silver Ring With Cubic Zirconia

This is a charm blog – but I just couldn’t go past some of the great rings in this collection, particularly this silver butterfly ring with cubic zirconias studded on the outside of its body. The design is some of the best I’ve seen from Pandora – stylish and simple with lots of class. This would match great with some of the other flowery rings in the collection or any of your own flower themed rings to create that Spring time feel. It’s far too tempting to buy this with the flower ring and put the two together to make a butterfly scene.

Fav Piece 3: Purple Faceted Earrings With Sterling Silver And Cubic Zirconia

I’ve always been a huge fan of glass - my personal favourite and it’s something that I think Pandora does best and they’ve showcased it here with these faceted glass earrings. The colour of the collection seems to be centred mainly around the flowery purples and pinks – though this is a popular colour in many of Pandora’s charms, and these colours shine no better than in these multi faceted glass drop earrings and the coloured cubic zirconia.

Fav Pice 4: Artist Palette Silver Hanging Charm, Cubic Zirconia

When I saw this is almost instantly became my new favourite charm! I promise you it will be the first thing off the collection I’ll be getting as it’s got such as unique idea and gorgeous look. The detail on the paintbrush is amazing, but of course it’s the coloured cubic zirconia on the artists’ palette that are the real stars of the charm. It’s a way to put colour on your bracelet that I’ve never seen before and something I hope to see more of. A beautiful piece!

Of course, like every collection that comes out we’re spoiled with a full pack of great and memorable pieces to put on our bracelets and our collections. Check out the Floral Brilliance Openwork charm, the princess spacer or ring or ever experiment with the new alphabet charms if you're looking for something bit different. But here are my favourites but don’t hesitate to pick what suite your style or whatever theme you’re working on - see all of it here.

Australia Day Charm Styling – Top charms for an Aussie feel

Well Australia day might be over, but the long weekend has left me in a particularly patriotic spirit and as the writer of the Aussie Charm Fan blog I’m compelled to celebrate the next few weeks rocking some Aussie themed charms. Here are some themes and looks I experimented with from my collection for a stirring Aussie feel to my outfit.

The Green and Gold

The official Aussie colours are a great way to show your true colours in the Summer sun. If you’ve got a gold bracelet or any gold charms then now’s the time to bring it out to complete the theme. The closest you might get to green in the bracelet section is the teal bluish-green leather material. As for charms there are a ton of choices, but the most appropriate would be the bright green Murano glass charm with a gold trimming one of my personal favourites in the Murano materials, though it has been retired for some time I was lucky to pick one up from a friend a while back. If you have any sort of amethyst or lime green jewellery that might be appropriate, throw it on the bracelet and see if it works!

Aussie Themed Charms

While there might not be an official Australia day charm (I can’t think of a design that wouldn’t be too tacky) you can trawl the collection to come up with some Aussie themed gems that are more than appropriate for your bracelet. Top of the list is the Sydney Opera House charm, a bonus if you live in Sydney like myself. The charm is also a great deal and you can pick it up at the Sydney Opera House’s shop if you’re just in town visiting. Some other charms that I thought would be perfect would of course be the super cute silver Kangaroo with a baby joey in its pouch or the dolphin, not unique to Australia but commonly seen around our beautiful beaches.

Apart from these you can think outside of the box and go for some of the beach and seaside charms that were released in the Summer (Aussie Winter) collection earlier this year. I felt there was a bit of a European feel in the colours and shapes that were chosen, but it would still be appropriate given the huge beach culture over here and the great weather we’re getting right now.

Whatever charms you think is the best from your collection to go on your bracelet, I think the go to look for this Summer and this Australia Day is something a bit more relaxed and casual. Try toning it down with just a couple of your favourites and a few spacers on a leather bracelet which fits perfectly with a relaxed afternoon on the beach of in the backyard!

3 Tips For Pandora Summer Style

It’s officially Summer which has hit us in full swing this December with some blazing hot days. The Sun’s out, the beaches are packed and it’s time to start thinking about what charms to fit in with the season. Here are 3 simple tips about style as well as care to have sparkling style with your charm bracelet this sunny season.

1. Caring for your charms – Summer means swimming pools, beaches and a bit of sweat with the sweltering heat, all of which aren’t exactly ideal for charm bracelets. Chlorine is a big no-no for charm bracelet and really any kind of jewellery that you’re wearing. This along with other chemicals in the swimming pool will risk dulling the shine on your bracelet and in certain cases can turn your charms and other precious metals black! If you’re wearing charms with oxidation the effect can be ruined, in some cases permanently. Remember to take your bracelet off before swimming and if you happen to take a dip accidentally with your charms then try to rinse them as soon as possible to avoid the chemicals and salt being on the metal’s surface for too long.

2. Daily Care – With Summer comes Sun and heat, but also more sweats and oil from your skin building up on your bracelet which isn’t just gross but can dull the gemstones and cause damage through abrasion as the charms rub together. The official guide to care tells us to wash our bracelets and charms regularly in hot soapy water as maintenance to remove oils I’ve experimented with a few more ‘professional’ cleaning products but haven’t noticed too much of a difference for regular daily cleans and there are certain risks with different metals that could cause damage, so I’ll stick with hot soapy water as I’m not cleaning expert. However, I’ve also had the charms professionally cleaned which you can do at most official Pandora outlets and there’s nothing like it – sparkling and fresher than ever!

3. Summer Styling – The season of the Sun is best celebrated with a splash of vibrant, happy colours. For this season I’ve been fawning over some of the pieces in the 2013’s Summer collection (released in Australia’s winter) which had a huge Italian/European feel to it with whites, reds and blue and a red scooter which has been at the top of my wish list for a while now. Enamel charms are a great way to combine splashes of colour to highlight your bracelet and fit in with the celebrations around you. My personal favourite for an Australian summer would definitely be some of the deep blue and teal Murano drop charms of faceted glass which bring a drop of cool colour that reminds people of the sea and the beach.

Wherever you are this Summer and whatever you’re doing have a ton of fun and relax in the sunshine! Take care of your bracelet and party it up with style.

The Pandora Christmas Collection Is Here!

The festive season is upon us, and to charm fans around the world that means that we get new charms from Pandora in the new Christmas collection! This year is quite standard, but combined with a ton of new stuff from the Essences collection; we’re being spoilt with new goodies this Summer. In this post I’ll go through some pieces that I think will make great gifts, my favourites from the collection, and some styling ideas with the new charms!

Christmas Gifts – Things to think about Choosing the perfect gift for Christmas isn’t the easiest thing in the world, to be honest. If you’re looking to induct somebody into the world of charm loving and Pandora then take a look at some of the premade bracelets featured here, though it is a tad pricier. You have to pick something that they’ll love, and when it comes to jewellery it might be necessary to include the receipt in case they want to exchange it because of sizing (or if it’s really not their style). Here are some simple tricks to get a gift that’s sure to be loved this Christmas, even if they don’t have a Pandora bracelet!

One of the best things to do if in doubt is to look to the Rings and Earrings collection. These pieces are super easy to get for sizing (simply take a look at their favourite ring) and also work well for anybody’s style. This year there are some fantastic Pave rings that would be suit any style or occasion – work, going out of just weekend casual. Another great option if you don’t fancy anything you see in the new Christmas collection is one of Pandora’s simple birthstone rings. It’s an easy pick that’s personal to the receiver!

Earrings are much the same but are even easier to buy since you don’t need any sizing info whatsoever. I’m a personal fan of the Pave and Star/Heart studs, though these might be a bit seasonal in their use. The Murano drops are a great piece as well – instantly classy without breaking the bank.

For The Charm Fans – Best Picks From Christmas This Christmas collection isn’t letting up on adding in charms that are sure to become classics. For me what stood out what the Carousel silver charm (791236). I think this charm is the most detailed piece I’ve seen from Pandora in a long time with tiny heart shapes at the top, oxidised silver around a beautifully intricate horse and a tiny golden top to add a bit of colour. This is something I definitely have to see in store for myself, but the way it caught my eye made it a definite addition to the wish list.

If you’re looking to treat somebody who has a charm bracelet, then the pinecone, Christmas tree and magic silver sky charms are wonderful pieces that would work on any bracelet without setting you back too much. Overall the theme of the new charms is more around festivity and the giving season, though there are quite a few specifically around Christmas if its big in your culture. For styling your bracelet this season the festive Murano drops are a great way to elegantly bring colour to you wrist, though the splashes of red enamel in the Pine Cone, Candy Cane and Santa charms are a good way to go. As for myself, I’m looking through my collection for duotone pieces to construct a sparkling centrepiece for my outfit – which should look something like this.

The Pandora Essences Collection – Why I’m Excited!

If you’re an incessant visitor to the official Pandora site like myself, then you’ve probably seen the new page promoting the very soon to come out Pandora essences collection. If not then take a look for yourself here for the collection, though you may need to sign up towards the Pandora club to get access to the promotional materials. This is by far the most exciting collection to come out and I think it’ll be a huge success, attracting Pandora fanatic present, past and future. It seems to really embody the Pandora spirit on unique and beautiful moments and the charms are really something different with some elegant designs and different material. Here are just a few reasons why I’m so hyped up about this new collection and some of my (preliminary) favourites!

Unique Charm Meanings & Designs
Some of these charms are totally unique and just a few of the new ones that really stand to me are Faith, Trust, Health and Positivity. These ones use precious stone materials that I haven’t really seen featured in any of Pandora’s previous charms and even things like ‘Green Adventure or Aventurine ’ and ‘Magnesite’ that you don’t really see often in other jewellery brands. There are also some awesome designs that either work with the charm’s gemstone like the dark stains in the ‘Positivity’ to provide a really enchanting texture or the craftsmanship in ‘Trust’, ‘Health’ and ‘Happiness’ that embody the elegant Pandora style. I’ve had a good look at each of the new items in the collection and have got to saw that Freedom, Compassion and Honesty are my must-gets as their design and meanings really struck out to me. In addition I think Faith and Energy and pieces I’ll put on my wish list – they are virtues that I feel I need a bit more of (doesn’t everyone!) and the gemstones might help transfer some energy over.

Materials and Their Meanings
The other thing that I love about this collection is the array of new materials that they’re using. The whole reason I love Pandora is that I can remember exactly where and when I got each charm on my bracelet, giving each one meaning and significance. It’s heaps different from any other kind of jewellery in that I can wear it every day and have it as both a fashion accessory and a bracelet of memories from significant milestones in my life. Some of the materials that stand out to be are Love’s rose pink moonstone (or quartz)and Faith’s purple Amethyst that remind me of a bit of royalty.
The charms still haven’t been released, but I couldn’t be more excited for this particular collection and review them. The only hard part is choosing what to get first!

Forgotten Collection – Pandora Earrings

Everybody knows Pandora is all about the charms and charm bracelets, but not many people rave about the other Pandora collections like the earrings, rings and watches which also follow the unique and intricate look of Pandora charms and can make really nice complements when matched perfectly. It was my birthday recently and knowing that I’m a major Pandora freak in general my friends got me a few things from Pandora amongst them a pair of Pandora earrings! It got me thinking and when I looked at the extensive earring collection on the Pandora website I realised that the earrings match really well with some of my charms and bracelet themes. Here are some combinations that I think would look great:

Glass With Glass

Here are the earrings I got and I looked at a charm from the most recent collection I treated myself to a few weeks back – a black and white cherry blossom charm that I usually wear on my black leather bracelet with just a few clips and silver charms in a minimalist style. The glass on glass look goes really well together, especially the black and white theme that would look even greater on a simple summer outfit or even something more formal for the office. Anything Pandora does with glass becomes my instant favourite so I’ll be sporting this look a bit more often in the coming months.

Liquid Silver

Even the most casual Pandora collectors will have at least one of Pandora’s iconic silver charms. Some of Pandora’s most famous charms like the love heart, Scottie dog or golden nightingale have beautiful textures in shiny reflective silver, sometime contrasted with oxidised silver to make the shiny surfaces stand out even more. With earrings I saw a few on the collection that I hadn’t noticed before that would match really well with these charm styles. There are quite a few styles and designs that you can choose that’s most comfortable or appropriate for your face shape, but they all have that same liquid silver look that complements any silver charms you have perfectly. The silver look is great for more formal dresses like glass and work really well to contrast against some vibrant colours.

For Gemstone Charms

Pandora’s release of Pave style charms put gemstones in the spotlight on many people’s charm bracelets. Usually charms didn’t really feature gemstones, though a few in the new seaside collection had cute blue topaz stone embedded in eyes and pearls in the clam mouths. The liquid silver and glass earrings might clash a bit too much with these types of charms, but looking for a set of earrings with similarly coloured gemstones can make a great complement to bring out the gemstones in your charms. For the most part Pandora charms’ gemstones are in a red, blue or white and similar colours are across the earrings range to match up nicely. Have a look at the gemstone category of the charms page http://www.pandora.net/en-au/explore/products/charms#!791108TPP/subcat/11/stone/!01 for some more ideas.

Thoughts On Pandora’s New Season Collection

Living in Australia which is on the other side of the world Pandora’s headquarters in Denmark I’m used to seeing new collections from Pandora that are totally out of sync with the season that me and my fellow fanatics are living in. Sometimes it’s great with like the recent spring collection that came out in our Autumn and reminded me of some nice floral patterns. This time it’s the Summer ‘By The Sea’ collection that’s coming out in our Winter, but in Australia we’re in no shortage of Sunny weather and to top it off there an Opera House charm in this collection! A perfect addition to the theme of ‘By the Sea’ I might add and a definite must-buy for myself as a Sydney-sider and proud Aussie! As for the rest of the collection….Here are my thoughts:

European Seaside Themes

If you’re thinking of a seaside theme then a great country would be the romance and history of the Europe countryside with its villas and winding roads along the bright blue sea. Pandora is based in Denmark as I mentioned before with designers residing in Europe so it isn’t too much of a surprise that they chose imagery such as the famous gondolas of Venice and Vespas that are so popular around Italy. Personally I’m most impressed by the scooter silver dangle with extensive red enamel colouring and a cubic zirconia making a cute headlight. I could see it perfect for anybody who owned a scooter and might go well on your keychain but I’d be careful of scratching the bright red enamel coating.

Vibrant Triple Layered Leathered Bracelets

As always the pieces of each collection go amazingly well together and this Seaside collection is no different. Here we have triple layered leather bracelets that aren’t exactly meant to be stacked with charms like the more traditional single banded silver or black leather woven bracelet, but would look great either on its own or in my opinion, with just a few charms or clips spotted around the length of material. My favourite colour would definitely be the turquoise colour, perfect for the Seaside Theme and would look stunning with the scooter charm!

Cute Crustaceans

A new Pandora collection would be complete with at least a couple cute animal charms. This time around we’ve got some sea dwelling creatures with a fish, seashell and a baby crab. As usual these are the charms that really pique my interest but the seashell silver charm holding a tiny pearl that wins my favourite for the Seaside collection. If you’re looking for the perfect charm for your niece, daughter or granddaughter I’d definitely recommend the silver fish with blue topaz eyes though. A cute, but elegant and long-lasting gift for a young lady for sure!

Special Mentions

This new series of charms is jam packed with some great stuff that’s sure to be Pandora classics – I’ve got my eye on the scooter dangle in particular. In addition a few more things caught my eye: a classy cubic zirconia studded pair of tiny sunglasses, a brightly coloured beach ball and something that will definitely go on my wish list no matter what – a blue and yellow enamel beach balloon with a brilliantly details silver rope wound around it.Along with that there are some new Pandora rings that build on the stack centered ring collection that has been built up along the years and some nice earrings too.